Press Release

Raising awareness of legal aid in its 60th year

20 April 2009

This year, over two million people with legal problems in England and Wales will get help through legal aid. However, recent research carried out for the Legal Services Commission (LSC) by Ipsos MORI has shown that 83% of people have a limited knowledge of legal aid, what it applies to and how it can help.

The LSC and Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have today launched an exhibition to increase people's awareness of legal aid. The exhibition will be on display in the House of Commons from Monday 20 April until Thursday 23 April. It will then tour England and Wales, taking in towns and cities such as Birmingham, Norwich, York, Bala (North Wales), Blackburn, Leeds, Bristol and Liverpool.

The exhibition provides information on legal aid through the decades and includes a timeline of important events, information on some of the cases legal aid has funded, as well as a glimpse into the future of legal aid.

For the last 60 years, legal aid has not only helped individuals, but has also funded test cases in the courts, improved the justice system and in some instances changed the law itself. Harry Farr's First World War posthumous pardon in 2006, the Clapham Junction rail crash inquiry in 1988 and the multi-party action for Thalidomide children in 1973 are just a few examples.

Launching the exhibition, Willy Bach, the Legal Aid Minister at MoJ, said:

"Legal aid is a vital service that has helped millions of people in their hour of need since 1949.

"In the current economic climate more and more people are going to need help and advice on matters like debt, housing and employment, ensuring this service is even more in demand.

"We are determined that everyone gets specialist legal help if they need it, which is why we are currently dedicating £2 billion a year to the legal aid fund. I am confident legal aid will continue to play a valuable role in society for the next 60 years and beyond."

Carolyn Regan, LSC Chief Executive, added:

"Our research showed that many people in England and Wales are not really aware of the benefits of legal aid, and that is why we are launching this exhibition in the 60th year of legal aid. I encourage everyone to visit the exhibition when it is in a town or city near them. We are also today launching a special website to mark the 60th anniversary of legal aid (www.legalaid60.org.uk). Here you can find details of the exhibition tour as well as interesting anecdotes and factual information about legal aid. Legal aid is strongly committed to giving people who can least afford it access to justice – it helps make our society a civilised one."